Collapsible cage or live box



Nov. 14, 1950 E. T. BJORKLUND ET AL COLLAPSIBLE CAGE OR LIVE BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1947 INVENTORS CARL S. BJORKLUND EDSEL T. BJORKLUND EDGAR QBJORKLU Now. 14, 1950 E. T. BJORKLUND ETAL 0,

I COLLAPSIBLE CAGE 0R LIVE BOX Filed April 19, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CARL S.B-JORKLU ND EDSEL T.BJORKLUND EDGAR CBJORKLUND f f% WZ ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1950 "Our inventionrefers'topagesor live b xes f r fish andbaitor the like,"'andit has ror itsfprir'na'ry object to provide a "simple, durable, collapsible, "ventilated; metal cageffor transporting or ship- "ping 'live animals or-birds "and alse-for :sub-

merging as a live box for bait, it being understood that said cage may b'em'anufactured in various SlZeS.

The specific object'ofour invention is to provide a plurality of .panel units having. wire frames provided with"b6ttom hinges connected by clasps andahinge cove'r'with-a slidable covered hand hole. The finished unit is collapsible and with provision for a solid "slidable sheet metal bottom in conjunction with a perforated bottom frame for sanitary purposes inshipping animals. a

It is also manifest that 'when the box is "fully collapsed o'rfolded'one'"pan'elupon the other and locked together, "the 'unitmay 'be conveniently carried or shipped in a'cofnpact and minimum "space.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it

.. ":1 Claiin. (Cl. 119-47) Referringby characters to the drawingsa and A indicate-the ventilated endpanels, B and B, the-side panels, C the bottom panel and'D -the hinged top-cover.

All'of the panels, as shown, comprise Woven *wire sheets reinforced by rectangular "-wire rod frames 5, to which fram'es arewelde'd, or o'therwise secured, the *wire meshed -'s'h'eets" forr'ein- "forcing purposes. The frontstretchof the betbeing understood that such changes in the precise I embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perpective view of a cage embodying the features of our invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional View of the same, the section being indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the cage, the section being indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is another cross section of the cage, the section being indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View, illustrating a sectional corner of the cage, showing our preferred form of corner clasp, the section being indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the cage folded outwardly upon a flat plain preparatory to being compactly nested for shipment.

Figure 7 is an end view of the cage with its panels in its compactly folded position and locked together. I

tom 'framehas secured thereto 'a reiriforcing rod 2, spaced above and paralleling --'-s'aid b'ottom stretch I to form a mouth or gap. j

As best illustrated in-Figure 1 6f 1 the drawings, the bottom stretch of the front panel rrame 'is' carries loops 3 for hingeden'gage'me ntjwith the rod-2.

The side str'etcheso'f the bottom frame I fare pivotally connected to the bottom "s'tretche'sfof theendframes A "and A by loops 4'4 extending from "the endipanel frames.

The :lower stretch of the *fram'ejfof Tthefre'ar panel B 'is also "pivotally "connected" re a stretch of the bottom frame I by loops 5-5 carried by the rear panel. Hence, as best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the side and end panels are pivotally connected to the bottom panel.

The upper stretch of frame I of the back panel B is provided with loops 6-45 for hinged engagement with the back stretch of the frame forming part of the panel D, whereby said cover panel D may readily be opened or closed.

The wire frame of the panel cover D has secured thereto a cross brace wire I, to which is attached the inner ends of parallel strips 'I'I, the opposite end of said parallel strips being welded to the end stretch of the wire frame I, as shown.

A flat strip 8 is transversely connected to the parallel strips I and between this flat strip 8 and a similar strip 8, connected to the frame I, is a hand opening E for convenience in access to the body of the box for the purpose of extracting or depositing the fish or bait. A slidable meshed wire shutter F is mounted in the channel strips I, whereby the opening is closed, said shutter F may be secured by staples 9 and 9' associated with the cover and strip 8.

As best indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the front edge of the swinging cover D has pivotally mounted thereon a hand link I0 adapted to engage between a pair of eyes I 0 extending from the side front panel B, whereby said cover may be securely fastened and locked by a spring snap I I, firmly secured to said panel by a flexible runner II' as shown. It is understood that the 3 swinging cover D is also provided with a manipulating handle l2 intermediate its ends.

When th side and end panels are brought together to form the box, the upper corners are secured by a standard link and latch I3, there being similar latches on all upper corners and the same are purchased in open market known as "suit case latches. 7

While we have shown and described all of the panels wherein wire meshed sheets are employed, it is apparent that in some instances, we may employ, for example, solid sheets of metal as a substitute for the meshed wire, under which conditions two of the panels may be perforated for ventilation. We may also, under certain conditions, fabricate the panels from what is known as Metal Mesh, developed by stamping said sheets to render them porous. 7

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings and also Figures 2 and 3 of the same, when it is desired to knock downor totally collapse the box, the corner latches I3 are disconnected, as well as the hand link I0. Thereafter, all of the panels are folded outwardly upon a flat plain as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, and thereafter, as indicated in dotted lines Figure 2, the end panels are first folded down. The rear panel B,

as indicated in dotted lines Figure 3, is then swung downwardly, and the cover panel D is fold- 7 ed upon the back panel B, whereby both of said panels are then folded flat upon the two side panels and thereafter, the front panel B is folded 1 thereon.

In this collapsed position, the panels are locked together by the spring snap II in conjunction with its runner I I, the said spring snap being engaged with a staple I4 extending from the juxtaposed sides of the frames I of the back panel B.

When it is desired, .for sanitary purposes, to provide a solid false bottom for the cage, a solid metal sheet I5, having an upturned front edge I, is inserted, and upon the bottom of the cage through the narrow throat or slot formed by the rod 2 and frame wire member I, the said sheet I5 being provided with an upturned flange I5 which closes the gap between the aforesaid frame members.

Thus, all trash and foreign matter is retained in the cage-when used in transportation of live animals,ijbirds and the like.

We claim:

A live box having a bottom panel comprising a rectangular screened sheet, a rod binder therefor, a reinforcing offset rod extending from and paralleling one stretch of the rod binder to form a slotted mouth having a false solid bottom sheet slidable therein, the solid sheet being provided with an upturned'lip adapted to close the mouth, other similar side and end panels having rod binders in hinge connection with three sides of the bottom rod binders, another similar .panel p in i hinged connection with} the offset remforcing rod of the, bottom panel, clips for locking the "sides and end fpanels together. and a cover panel in hinged connection with one of the side panels. e

- I IEDSEL T. BJORKLUND.

EDGAR C. BJORKLTJND.

CARL S. BJORKLUND.

REFERENCES crrED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 1 Date 665,918 Lisby Jan. 15, 1901 923,725 Sterrett' June 1, 1909 1,306,132 Upton June 10, 1919 1,771,492 Karlson July 29, 1930 1,973,952 Goldberg Sept. 18, 1934 

